Reviews

Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon

grendels_mother's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

leannaaker's review against another edition

Wow. This is depressing book, but one that you should read anyway. It is a commentary on the humanity of people in ridiculously horrific times. The book is a crazy blend of horrific scenes and events that makes you come back for more (almost like rubbernecking on the freeway), mixed with a few short, mystical, fantasy interludes, mixed with horror, mixed with immense hope and bravery. I can't recommend this book enough. This is my first Robert McCammon book, and I'll be reading more!

danyell19's review against another edition

Trying to get away from dark and negative books

luciemtss's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gun violence, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol and Death of parent

tromatojuice's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

flufficorn's review against another edition

3.0

A lot of the reviews I read here talk about how this book has a lot of torture porn in it. I have to wonder if the people that wrote those reviews white them before The Walking Dead became a television show, because if this is torture porn, TWD is a glimpse into the deepest circles of hell.

This book is not what I was expecting it to be. I was told that it was nuclear holocaust, post-apocalyptic, but going in did not know about the fantasy aspects of it. I enjoy it when fantasy is introduced into elements that I least expect them to be, but only when it's done well. In my opinion, this was done well.

The characters aren't the most relatable, but I did become invested in them regardless of that. Simply put, this was a well written story. All in all, I'd give this book 3.5 stars, but since I can't do that here, I'll round up to four.

rorycarroll's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

rainpunk's review against another edition

4.0

I don't read much horror, but I really enjoyed this! I found it pretty funny though how you can definitely see influence of the moral panic around Dungeons & Dragons that was at full height when this book was written. There's one character who has a very interesting character trait that basically has them live in a pseudo-alternate-reality, and it sure sounds like the scary D&D fear I heard about in Christian propaganda as a child.

amyahava's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ndenitto's review against another edition

5.0

Swan Song by Robert McCammon will now be my go-to suggestion for people who want an epic apocalyptic horror/fantasy. Yes, that means it replaces The Stand by Stephen King in my mind.